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Boeing will fly a demonstrator of its P-8 Poseidon-based Maritime Surveillance capability in a Bombardier Challenger next year.
Partner Field Aviation has begun modifying the business jet to carry a Selex 7000-series radar, mission system, electronic support measures (ESM) system as well as an electro-optical camera, which will turn the aircraft into Boeing’s Maritime Surveillance Aircraft offering.
The demonstrator — which will be shown to potential customers during 2014 — will use a Boeing-owned Challenger 604, but customer aircraft will be based on the Challenger 605 model.
The company says it is studying a wide range of sensors and systems for the aircraft,
and while Boeing does not envisage an armed role for the aircraft,
Eric Martel, Bombardier’s president of specialized and amphibious aircraft, said there were no airframe limitations if customers wanted to add pylons to the wings.
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